Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Manchester, UK.
BMJ Paediatr Open. 2024 Oct 21;8(1):e003012. doi: 10.1136/bmjpo-2024-003012.
Acute otitis media with discharge (AOMd) results from a tympanic membrane perforation secondary to a middle ear infection. Currently, the impact of AOMd on children and young people (CYP) and their families is not well understood. There is also a need to explore the experience of healthcare professionals in treating AOMd. Interviews with CYP and their parents, and focus groups with medical professionals, were conducted to explore these objectives.
A total of 26 parents of CYP (age range: 7 months to 15 years) with a history of AOMd (within the last year) and 28 medical professionals were recruited across the UK between August 2023 and March 2024. Healthcare professionals were from primary care (n=17), ear, nose and throat (ENT) (n=7) and emergency medicine (n=4) backgrounds. Thematic analysis was performed independently by three reviewers.
The majority of CYP (n=25/26) (96.2%) had suffered from multiple episodes of AOMd. AOMd has a physical, psychological, educational, financial and social impact on CYP and their parents. Parents found accessing healthcare services and information difficult, which increased parental anxiety. Antibiotic overuse was also a concern among parents. The majority of general practitioners and emergency care staff described using oral amoxicillin, compared with ENT doctors who predominantly prescribed topical antibiotics.
AOMd has a significant impact on CYP and their parent's daily lives. Need for clear, easily accessible patient information was identified as a priority by the parents of CYP with AOMd. Evidence-based management guidelines should be developed once high-quality evidence is available.
ISCTRN43760.
伴有渗出液的急性中耳炎（AOMd）是由于中耳感染导致鼓膜穿孔而引起的。目前，AOMd 对儿童和青少年（CYP）及其家庭的影响尚未得到充分了解。此外，还需要探讨医疗保健专业人员治疗 AOMd 的经验。我们对 CYP 及其父母进行了访谈，并对医疗专业人员进行了焦点小组讨论，以探讨这些目标。
我们在 2023 年 8 月至 2024 年 3 月期间在英国招募了 26 名有 AOMd 病史（最近一年）的 CYP（年龄范围：7 个月至 15 岁）的父母和 28 名医疗专业人员。医疗保健专业人员来自初级保健（n=17）、耳鼻喉科（ENT）（n=7）和急诊医学（n=4）背景。三位评审员独立进行了主题分析。
大多数 CYP（n=25/26）（96.2%）患有多次 AOMd。AOMd 对 CYP 和他们的父母在身体、心理、教育、经济和社会方面都有影响。父母发现难以获得医疗服务和信息，这增加了他们的焦虑。抗生素的过度使用也是父母关注的问题。大多数全科医生和急诊医护人员描述使用口服阿莫西林，而 ENT 医生主要开局部抗生素。
AOMd 对 CYP 和他们父母的日常生活有重大影响。有 AOMd 的 CYP 父母认为，需要明确、易于获取的患者信息。一旦有了高质量的证据，就应该制定基于证据的管理指南。
ISCTRN43760。
